The Super Eagles have dropped two places in the latest FIFA world ranking.
According to the latest ranking published on FIFA’s website on Thursday, they dropped from 40th to 42nd position.
The drop in places may not be unconnected with disappointing showing in their two opening fixtures in Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
On matchday one against Lesotho, the Eagles forced the visitors to a 1-1 draw in Uyo. While against Zimbabwe, Jose Peseiro’s men had to come from behind again to settle for another 1-1 draw.
After the opening two games, the three-time Africans champions are third behind leaders Rwanda and second placed South Africa.
The Eagles hitherto feared by opponents especially their African neighbours are no longer that dreaded with many opponents hitherto dubbed minors in football insisting that the Eagles are no invisible and are beatable.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Qatar following failure survive double header playoff against Black Stars of Ghana.
Jose Peseiro’s side, however, maintained the sixth position in Africa.
Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt are the top five teams in Africa.
Rivers United’s Samuel Adom Antwi is anticipating the upcoming 2023/24 CAF Confederations Cup second group match against Dreams FC, scheduled to be played at the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
Samuel Adom Antwi who was among the goalscorers in Rivers United’s 3_0 victory against Angola’s Petroleos do Lobito, having experienced past encounters with Dreams FC, including a loss in the MTN FA Cup final with King Faisal last season, Antwi shared his excitement about facing a familiar opponent.
King Faisal player Samuel Adom Antwi
I’ve played against them and know them. We are coming to win in Ghana because that’s our mentality. I will be hoping to score in Ghana and seal it with a victory.”
Antwi who is still a player of King Faisal completed a move to Rivers United during the transfer window ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The 23-year-old footballer secured a one-year loan deal with the Port Harcourt-based club and has played a pivotal role in their CAF campaign netting a goal in his debut for the club in the competition.
Paul Acquah
In the same vein, Rivers United midfielder Paul Acquah is expressing confidence in his team’s experience, positioning them as favorites in their 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup clash against Dreams FC.
Emphasizing the Nigerian team’s quarterfinalist status from the previous season, Acquah draws attention to the notable difference in experience between the two teams.
Meanwhile, Acquah’s confidence is further fueled by the team’s recent 3-0 victory against APC Lobito in their first group game while Dreams were beaten 2-0 by Club Africain.
“We are more experienced than Dreams FC,” Acquah stated in an interview with Happy FM.
“We were quarterfinalists last year as compared to Dreams who are making their maiden appearance in the competition.”
Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma has insisted that they can play their home game anywhere in Nigeria.
The Pride of Rivers began their campaign in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday with a 3-0 spanking of APC Lobito in Uyo.
Eguma made it clear that though Port-Harcourt is their fortress but quickly said they are capable of playing their home game anywhere in the country.
“Uyo is Nigeria and Port-Harcourt is also Nigeria and we are a Nigerian team.
“So we play anywhere, we have even left Nigeria to play in Benin Republic in the past, though everyone must have their fortress and our home is Port-Harcourt but now that the conditions don’t allow us to play there, we can play anywhere, so it’s Nigeria”, he said.
Meanwhile, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made appointments of match officials for Round 2 of the group stages of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup for the game between Dreams FC and Rivers United.
Congolese referee, Messie Jessie Oved Nkounkou Mvoutou, has been selected to take charge of the game as the center referee.
He will be supported on the flanks by his countrymen Styven Danek Styven Moutsassi Moyo (Assistant I), Malondi Chany Yanes (Assistant II) and Pierre Jean Nguiene (Fourth Referee).
Dreams FC after losing 2-0 to Club Africain in Round 1 is aiming to beat Rivers United in the second group game.
The match between the Ghanaian side and the team from Nigeria will be played on Sunday, December 3, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Confederation of African Football CAF has announced the shortlists for the women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023 with Nigerian duo Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie still in the race for the women’s Player of the year top 10.
The top 10 lists dished out Monday indicate that some Falcons have also dropped out of the race including Rashidat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Toni Payne among others who made the initial 30-women list.
For the Player of the Year, ten players remain in the race for the prestigious individual honour. Whereas, the other categories namely Interclub Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year, have five nominees each.
The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
The Awards Gala will take place on Monday, 11 December 2023, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association):
The management of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed a Four Million naira fine on Abia Warriors over the conduct of some of their officials in their Match-day 10 tie against Rangers on Sunday.
This is contained in a statement released by the body on Monday which reads: “Abia Warriors have been charged for breaching #NPFL24 Framework & Rules following the poor conduct of some of their officials in the course of their home game Vs Rangers on Sunday.
It continued, “Some Abia Warriors officials, in an aggressive manner, prevented the away team (Rangers) from gaining access to the pitch before the match, thereby leading to violent scenes capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Abia Warriors failed to provide adequate security to the away team before the match, resulting in a physical falling-out committed by some of their officials. An Abia Warriors official prevented #NPFL24 official broadcast partner from recording pre-match content, harassed the official broadcast partner’s media crew & ceased the mobile device of StarTimes regional manager.” The statement added.
Abia Warriors have been ordered to identify & produce the official involved in the act of misconduct for additional sanctions.
“A fine of N1 million has been imposed on Abia Warriors for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute. Abia Warriors have also been fined N1 million for failure to provide adequate and effective security.
“A further fine of N2 million has been slammed on Abia Warriors for restraining #NPFL24 broadcast partners from recording.
“Abia Warriors have been issued a warning against preventing visiting teams from accessing the field of play before any subsequent match.
“Abia Warriors have been warned of facing heavier sanctions if similar act of misconduct recurs. Abia Warriors have 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal the sanctions.”
In the same vein, Nigeria Premier Football League board has charged and imposed a million naira fine on the officials of Rangers International of Enugu for their improper conduct in the same match.
Rangers have been charged for breaching NPFL Framework & Rules in the course of their match at Abia Warriors on Sunday.
Some Rangers officials brought the game to disrepute following their violent reaction to provocation from the home team (Abia Warriors), which is an act of misconduct under NPFL rules.
A fine of N1 million has been imposed on Rangers for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
Rangers have also been ordered to identify & produce the officials involved in the act of misconduct for further sanctions.
The Enugu club has been warned that a recurrence of the same act of misconduct will result in severe sanctions.
However, Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side has 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal or accept the sanctions”, the statement read.
Super Falcons stand-in Coach Justin Madugu has been compelled to pick replacements for forward Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after the duo voluntarily opted out of the Super Falcons’ squad that is due to contest a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture against Cape Verde, with the first leg in Abuja in four days.
NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said the two players had been sent their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria a whole week before they announced on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad.
“We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on Saturday that they would be unable to make the trip. However, Coach Madugu has moved swiftly to call up replacements for them,” disclosed Yusuf.
Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde, who missed the 2024 Olympics qualifying fixture against Ethiopia last month, is still out injured, and forward Ifeoma Onumonu also requested to be left out, saying she is nursing an injury. Defender Michelle Alozie told the team administrator that she will be undergoing a surgery.
Madugu has called up Portugal-based Peace Efih to once again fill the space vacated by Ayinde, while Rivers Angels’ midfielder Motunrayo Ezekiel will take the place of Christy Ucheibe, who is unable to travel to Nigeria from her base in Portugal
Nigeria U20 girls’ ace forward Chioma Olise will take the place of US-based Echegini while Chiamaka Chukwu of Rivers Angels has been called up to take Oshoala’s place.
The Super Falcons will host the first leg of the fixture against their counterparts from Cape Verde at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, with the second leg scheduled for the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December.
NEW LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)
Former Nigeria international Odion Jude Ighalo was the star performer in Al Wehdah’s resounding win over the visiting Al Khaleej.
The former Manchester United forward opened the scoring in the 3rd minute before Fabio Martins leveled for Al Khaleej in the 22nd minute from the spot.
Ighalo restored his team lead in the 58th minute before completing his hat-trick in the 80th minute with a well-taken spot kick that sealed the game 3-1.
The former Watford strike has become a household name in the Saudi Arabia Pro League, since his arrival, as he has emerged as the top scorer for Al Shabab and Al Hilal SC.
Enyimba International Football Club Assistant Coach, Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju has updated his coaching portfolio by adding a UEFA C-Licence to his already existing badges.
Yema, as he is fondly called will be expected to join the exclusive list of coaches who have obtained UEFA B coaching license shortly.
Coach Yema’s wealth of experience in various cadres of Nigerian football has seen him work with Magate FC in the third tier – NLO, Vandrezzer in the second tier – NNL, and MFM in the NPFL.
He has gone on to win the Nigeria Premier Football League title with the Aba warlords in his first stint with Finidi George.
It would be recalled that Coach Finidi and his assistant, Yemi Olanrewaju Daniel were not allowed in the technical area during Enyimba’s CL qualifiers against Al Ahli Benghazi, because both of them did not have CAF Coaching Licences.
Former Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel has urged football followers not to write off Super Eagles yet in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, saying the team can still turn the table around and also win the Afcon title.
The array of stars in the present Super Eagles team made the bookmakers pick them as one of the top favourites for the title, but the performance on the field has said otherwise.
Mikel who won the Man of the Match award during the final against Burkina Faso, the last time Nigeria won the Afcon trophy during a chat with CAF media said if Nigeria can win it again, it will be massive.
” Nigeria remained a favorite anytime we went to the tournament. Everyone knows that, but maybe we are not a massive favorite this time.
“If we can do it again, it will be a massive achievement for us, which is what the country needs for now.
“We need to get our football back to where it should, and by winning this tournament, our football will go back to where it should be”, he said.
With few days to the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the African soccer governing body has sent the accommodation of delegations guidelines to all the participating countries.
The delegation of the football body headed by its Secretary General Veron Omba Mosengo was in Ivory Coast on Wednesday and some key decisions were taken.
Mosengo, in his speech, notified the local federations participating with their teams in the African Cup of Nations, that the local organizing committee will cover the costs of accommodation for only 40 people (23 players in addition to 17 officials from the technical, administrative, and medical staff and the head of the mission).
According to the regulations, delegations and official missions will be covered from five days before each team’s first match until two days after its last match in the tournament.
Other resolutions in the guidelines
First Each team will have access to eight villas.
Second: In each hotel, there will be two common multi-functional areas for a total of 4 teams.
Each multi-functional area will contain the following facilities: a restaurant, a gym, a meeting room, and a relaxation area.
Third: Each team will have to submit, through the communications officer, the timetables required for using the common areas according to the dates provided by CAF.
Regarding the unwillingness to stay in a hotel and the possibility of moving to a private hotel:
“CAF specified the rules for accommodation and subsistence in this case that if any national team wishes to move from a hotel to a private hotel, they must officially notify us of this as soon as possible.”
Possible with them bearing all costs associated with transportation, accommodation, and subsistence in the hotel.
Nigeria football legend, Rabiu Ali has heaped praises on Shooting Stars of Ibadan fan’s favorite, Abdullahi Lawal for his tremendous performance in the league.
The youngster had a solid game for the Oluyole Warriors in a Matchday 9 NPFL fixture against Kano Pillars last weekend.
The midfield maestro dominated the midfield against the legendary Ali who, at the end of the game hugged and took a picture with him.
Shooting Stars’ official X account; “NPFL legend, Rabiu Ali noticed the prospects in upcoming 3SC defensive midfielder, Abdullahi Lawal.
“After the Matchday 9 game in Ibadan, the Kano Pillars’ legend hugged the player and told him: ‘You are a good player, just keep it up, you will be great.”
The creative midfielder with big movement, who won the MOTM award, got a standing ovation when he was substituted as the Ibadan-based side amassed the maximum points.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala have been nominated for the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards.
The striker will slug it out with Nicolò Barella, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, Yassine Bounou, Antoine Griezmann, Ilkay Gundogan, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Robert Lewandowski for the prestigious award.
The other nominees are, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Kim Min-Jae, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Vinícius Jr.
Osimhen won the Emerging Player of the Year in the 2022 edition.
Super Falcons star Oshoala got nominated in the Women’s Best Player award category.
The forward was part of the Barcelona Femeni side that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.
The winner will be decided via an online voting with the Gala event billed for January 19, 2024.
Sporting Lagos Football Club has announced Paul Aigbogun as its new Technical Director.
Aigbogun, who was the head coach of the Nigeria U-20 team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup is a UEFA-licensed coach. He also previously served as the Deputy Technical Director of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
“Over the past year, Aigbogun has worked behind the scenes and played a vital role in our promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL) to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). He was also instrumental in establishing our football academy and facilitating our affiliate club, Aarhus Fremad.
As Technical Director at Sporting Lagos, Aigbogun will provide technical support for the senior team as we take on our first NPFL season. He will also work closely with our football academy and affiliate club, Aarhus Fremad”, The club said.
After a 19-year playing career that spanned across several countries such as England, USA, Wales, Ireland, and Norway, Aigbogun started his career as a coach at Oldham Athletic in 2000.
Aigbogun was head coach and technical director at NPFL sides, Warri Wolves and Enyimba, with a short stint as Head Coach of FC Cape Town in 2012.
With Enyimba, he won the Nigerian FA Cup in 2013, finished 2nd in the league in 2014, and reached the semi-final of the CAF Champions League in 2018. He also guided Warri Wolves to the CAF Confederations Cup three times.
Speaking about his role here, Aigbogun said: “I’m delighted to be here. We’ve achieved a lot in two years and we’re still learning, but we’re very ambitious. We aim for excellence across the first team and youth levels, as well as at Aarhus. We have an outstanding team, both on and off the pitch, and we’re going to push as far as we can.”
Coach Justin Madugu is expected to lead the Super Falcons ahead of next week’s 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round, first leg clash with the Senior Women National Team of Cape Verde following reports that the contract renegotiation with Randy Waldrum seems to have stalled.
The nine-time African champions will host the Cape Verdians at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, before both teams trade tackles in a return leg in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December.
To be eligible for this final round, the Super Falcons accomplished a commanding 5-1 aggregate win over their counterparts from Ethiopia, with the first leg in Addis Ababa ending 1-1 before a 4-0 lashing of the ‘Lucy’ in Abuja.
All invited players have been advised to report to the team’s camp in Abuja between the 25th and 27th of November.
Meanwhile, Onome Ebi, Ashleigh Plumptre, Michelle Alozie and Ifeoma Onumonu were not listed for the games.
Both Onumonu and Alozie featured in the Olympic qualifiers against Ethiopia.
The Falcons have never failed to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations since the competition was launched as the African Women’s Championship in Nigeria in 1998, and have swept nine out of 12 titles that have been contested so far.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)
The Super Eagles of Nigeria once again dropped points in their Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after they forced the Warriors of Zimbabwe to a 1-1 draw in Rwanda on Sunday and made their journey more difficult in the series.
Playing at the Huye Stadium in Rwanda, the Nigerian side seems to be the better side but it was the Warriors that netted the opening goal in the 26th minute through Musona’s well-taken freekick.
Despite dominating the game, the Super Eagles have no shot on target throughout the entire first stanza of the game.
At halftime, Peseiro made three changes, introducing Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Boniface in place of Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, and Nathan Tella.
This was in a bid to add some bite to the team. But that decision did not yield fruits early enough, as the Super Eagles failed to break down the dogged Zimbabwean defense.
The three-time African champions up their game in the second half and they were able to peg back the Zimbabweans.
Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho leveled up the game for Nigeria in the 67th minute after good footwork from Moses Simon.
Zimbabwe employed a low block, and Nigeria failed to penetrate despite their prowess in attack. In the closing embers of the game, Zimbabwe had the better chances to score, but the Super Eagles just managed to hang on.
Both sides eventually settled for a 1-1 draw, and that puts them on two points after their first two games. The result puts them in a bad position, as a win for South Africa would ensure a two-point gap.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June 2024 with Nigeria hosting South Africa, current leaders of Group C, on the 2nd of June before travelling to an away game against Benin Republic.
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